Compressor



Oct. 12 1926. 1,602,791

W. H'. WINEMAN COMPRESSOR Filed Oct. 26 1918 J 'nvenftav: U a/6661i. Ufa/'7 will/6171b. a!

Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE.

WADE H. WINEMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSTGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A. CORPORATION- OF MASSACHUSETTS.

COMPRESSOR.

Application filed October 26, 1918. Serial 110,259,788.

This invention relates to compressors and compressor driving means, and more particularly to compressors which are driven directly by a motor.

An object of the present invention isto provide an improved compressor unloading means so controlled or actuated by the motor or some moving part of the compres' sor that the compressor is unloaded during the starting period of the motor. Other objects will subsequently appear.

ere an internal combustion engine or a synchronous electric motor or various other means is employed for operating a compressor, it is necessary to permit the motor to attain substantially its. normal running speed before throwing the compressor load upon it, as Otherwise the motor will not have gained suflicient speed to carry the load and will stop. It is one object of the present invention to use a part (if the compressor or motor mechanism for operating the unloader and so to connect this mechanism with the unloader that a minimum number of moving parts are required.

This invention will be best understood by reference to the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be'more par-- ticularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings which show for purposes of illustration one form which my invention may assume in practice, Fig. 1 isa sideelevation of a compressor provided with my improved compressor un loader mechanism, parts being shown in section to illustrate details of construction.

Fig. 2 is a similar outline view on a smaller scale, showing a driving motor for the compressor.

While the invention may be embodied in machines and devices other than the specific type herein shown, for the sake of illustration there is shown one embodiment of my invention in an angle compound compressor, of a type extensively used, having a horizontal low pressure cylinder 1, a vertical high pressure cylinder 2, an intercooler 3 mounted on the low pressure cylinder, and a driving shaft 4 withits flywheel 5, the whole being mounted on a single base 6. This compressor is adapted to be'driven by a motor M as illustrated in Fig. 2. The low pressure cylinder has an intake 7 which may be closed by a balanced unloading valve 8, as is common practice, and an outlet 9 leading directly to the intercooler 3. The high pressure cylinder has an intake 10, connected with the intercooler 3, and an outlet 11, which may be connected with a receiver or directly to a pressure supply system.

The shaft 4 carries a crank arm for actuat-v ing the cylinder pistons through connecting rods, crossheads, and piston rods, but as these parts are common to machines of this type, and as they form no part of the present invention, they have not been shown in the drawing and further description of them appears to be unnecessary.

A common form of lubricating system used with machines of this type comprises an oil well or'reservoir in the bottom of the crank case, and a pump for circulating the oil or for pumping the lubricant to a smaller reservoir from which it flows by gravity to the parts to be lubricated, through suitable ducts or pipes. In the embodiment shown herein, this pump is of the single acting piston plunger type, and is composed of a it with the oil well in the crank case, an.

outlet 14 leading to the supplemental reservoir 18 by way of the pipe; 15 in which is a check valve 15 to prevent the back flow of oil. A piston 16 reciprocates in the cylinder 12 and is actuated by a pitman 17 interconnected between the upper end of the piston and a small crank pin on the end of the driving shaft 4.

The supplemental reservoir 18 is mounted on the upper end of a standpipe 19 which carries centrally an overflow pipe'20, leading from a point near the top of the reservoir 18 to the main oil reservoir in the crank case, as is clearly shown. Small ducts 21 conduct the oil from the reservoir 18 or standpipe 19 to the parts to be lubricated.

The oil is Pumped through the pipe 15, one branch 0 a T coupling 22 and a check valve 23 to the lower end of the standpipe. This check valve 23 is, in general, of ordinary construction, having a web or partition 24 carrying a valve seat, a valve 25 adapted to contact with the seat, a spring 26 which tends ,to hold the valve seated and an adjustable cap or plug ,27 which may be moved to adjust the spring tension. A set screw 28 is threaded through the lower valve wall into contact with the valve to keep the latter from seating perfectly and so permitting a slight leakage through the check valve for a purpose to be hereinafter described;

Connected to the other branch of the T coupling is a pipe 29 which conducts oil from the pump to a piston 30 moving in a cylinder 31. A small pipe 32 is connected to the upper end of this cylinder to prevent an equalization of oil pressures on both sides of the piston 30 and to return any oil leaking past'the piston, to the crank case.

The piston 30 actuates. a piston rod 33, which in turn moves a controlling rod 34 by means of a horizontal arm 35 which is rigidly attached to the piston rod as is A ling rod 34 passes centrally through the balanced intake valve and carries in spaced relation thereto the head of a nut 38.

The oil reservoir 18 is placed above the cylinder 31, but the weight of the piston 30 and the moving parts connected therewith are so proportioned that the weight of these moving parts is always greater than the force exerted by the static head of the oil.

When the compressor is idle, the piston 30 will be at the lower end of the cylinder 31, the intake controlling valve 8 will be closed, and the oil in the standpipe and supplemental reservoir will .be kept at substantially the normal level by the check valve 15', which prevents a back flow of oil to the main reservoir in, the crank case. When the motor, which drives the compressor, is started, oil is pumped through pipes 15, T coupling 22, and pipe 29 to the lower side of the piston 30. The pressure of oil on the lower side of this piston is then "equal to the static head of oil in the standpipe and supplemental reservoir plus the force exerted by the spring 26 on the valve 25.

This spring pressure may be adjusted by a movement of the cap 27 to vary the pressure of the oil on the piston 30. As the piston 30 moves upward, the control rod 34 is moved upward, bringing the nut into contactwith the balanced intake or unloading valve 8. so that this valve is raised from its seat and the compressor is loaded.

The length of time the valve 8 remains on lts seat after tlremotor is started depends on the volumetrlc capacity of the oil pump and cylinder 31 and the spaced relation of travels a greater or a smaller distance before the nut comes into contact with the valve.

When the motor is stopped, the spring 26 forces the valve 25 against the set screw 28 and the oil in the cylinder 31 flows slowly past this valve to the standpipe because of the differential pressure exerted by the piston 30 and the parts attached thereto, and the static pressure, and because of the leakage through the valve 23. As the piston 30 descends, the unloading valve 8 becomes seated and the parts assume the relative po sitions shown in the figure. Thetime necessary for the return of the unloading or intake controlling valve to its seat may be varied by changing the weight of the reciprocating parts which move the unloading valve and by an adjustment of the set screw 28 to permit a greater or a smaller leakage through the valve 23.

Thus it is seen that I have devised a simple and eflicient means, having but few moving parts and operated by an element of the compressor system, for normally closing a compressor intake to unload the compressor during the starting period.

lVhile I have herein shown and described for purposes of illustration one specific form of the invention, it isto be understood that the same has been chosen for illustrative pur- -poses only,- and that extensive deviations may be made from the disclosed form thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a valve controlling mechanism, the combination comprising a valve means including a lost motion connection for actuating said valve after a predetermined movement of said compressor, and liquid pressure means for controlling said actuating means.

2. In a valve controlling mechanism, the combination comprising a valve, a valve actuating rod having a head normally inspacedrelation to said valve, a piston adjustably positively connected to said rod, and means for operating said piston.

3. In a valve controlling mechanism, the combination comprising an intake unloader valve, valve operating mechanism including means for delaying the movement of said valve in one direction, and separate means for controlling the movement" of the valve in the other direction.

4. In a compressor system comprising a compressor and an unloader valve therefor, the combination comprising a lubricating system, actuating means for said unloader valve, and means connected to the lubricating system for operating said actuating means.

5. In an-apparatus of the character de-' scribed, the combination comprising a lubri-' eating system, means therein for producinga flow of lubricant under pressure, a valve, and means connected to the system and governed only by the lubricant pressure for opening the valve and So maintaining it While lubricant pressure exceeds a predetermined' value.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a lubrieating system, means therein'for producing a flow of lubricant under pressure, a valve, and means connected to the system and governed and operated by the lubricant pressure for opening the valve and so maintaining it, said last mentioned means being effective after a predetermined time interval.

7. In an apparatus of the 'character described, the combination comprising a normally closed intake controlling valve, fluid pressure means for opening said valve, and means for generating said fluid pressure and for permitting said valve to close after said generation ceases.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a. normally closed intake controlling valve,-fiuid pressure means for opening said valve, and means including a non-seating valve for controlling said fluid pressure and for permit ting said valve to close.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, the combinationcomprising a fluidv under pressure, a movable member operable thereby, valve mechanism controlling the distribution of said fluid under pressure and comprising a seat and a valve member cooperating therewith, adjustable resilient means tending to seat the valve member,

and means for continuously holding said.

valve member off said seat;

10. In an apparatus of the character described, thecombination comprising a fluid under pressure, a movable member operable thereby, valve mechanism controlling the distribution of said fluid under pressure and comprising a seat and a valve member cooperating therewith, adjustable resilient means-tending to seat the valve member, and

adjustable means for continuously holding said valve member off said seat.

11. In combination, a fluid pressure system comprising a compressor and an intake unloader valve therefor, a lubricating. system therefor, and means connected to the lubricating system for operating the unloadingvalve.

12. In a compressor system, the combination comprising a compressor cylinder, an intake unloader valve therefor, operating means for said compressor; cylinder, lubricating means therefor, and means connected to the lubricating means for controlling said intake valve. r

13. In a compressorsystem, the combination comprising a compressor cylinder, anv

intake unloader valve therefor, a lubricant,

means for supplying the lubricant under pressure to the system, and means operated by lubricant pressure for operating the intake valve.

14. In a compressor system, the combina:

actuate said valve operating means to open the valve, and a valve mechanism for controlling the fluid pressure and for permitting a flow of lubricant to' the reservoir to permit the valve to seat.

16. In a compressor system, the combination comprising a cylinder, a normally closed intake valve therefor, means for operatin' the valve, a lubricant reservoir and stan pipe, a lubricant in said reservoir, standpipe, and operating means, and means interposed between said standpipe and operating means for controlling the flow of lubricant therebetween.

17. In a compressor system, the combination comprising a cylinder, a normally closed intake valve therefor, means for operating the valve, a lubricant reservoir and standpipe, means for supplying lubricant to said reservoir, standpipe and operating means, and means interposed betweensaid standreservoir, means for supplying lubricant under pressure to pipe and operating means for controlling the flow of lubricant therebetween.

18. In a compressor system, in combination, driving means. a compressor driven thereby, an intake unloader, a fluid pressure motor controlling the same, and a liquid pump supplyin fluid pressure to sald motor and driven y said driving means, said motor comprising a cylinder and a piston therein, said piston having a lost motion connection with said intake, unloader,-and

thereby, an intake unloader, a fluid pressure motor controlling the same, and liquid pressure generating means supplying pressure to said motor and driven by said driving means, said motor beingof the expansible chamber type and comprising a fixed member,

and a member movable relative thereto, said movable member being adapted to cause said intake unloader to load the compressor after predetermined movement, and the increase the volume in said motor during said movement being substantially equal to the capacity of the liquid pressure generating means while the compressor is being brought under a static head, operation of said pumping means placing said portion under a higher pressure, and means for connecting said fluid pressure controlled means to said portion of said system to subject the same to the pressures therein, said fluid pressure controlled means effecting loading of said compressor only when said portion is under pressure in excess of such static head and having associated therewith means capable of overcoming the static head whereby said compressor is unloaded when not running.

21. In acompressor system, the combination comprising a compressor and actuating means therefor, means to load and unload said compressor, fluid pressure operated controlling means therefor including a lubricant pumping system, and adjustable spring pressure controlled means to control the pressure to which said last mentioned means is subjected.

22. In a compressor system, the combination with a compressor and actuating means therefor and means for loading and unloadtu re.

WADE H. WINEMAN. 

